I'll be with you forever, If only in my dreams

Authors note: Thanks to everyone for your great reviews. I'll try not to make you wait to long before the next update. Keep the reviews coming!

Tohru paused as she was lifting a bite to her mouth. As her mind drifted back to that time a year ago she reached up to touch her face, dropping her chopsticks. Everyone stopped to look at her.

"Tohru-kun? Is something wrong?" Yuki asked studying Tohru's face.

Tohru waved her arms in the air, "Anou, it's nothing I just spaced out."

"That's nothing unusual" Kyo said standing up and leaving the room.

Tohru looked down at her lap. She felt so uncomfortable even now, being in a house where she didn't belong, the rice ball in the fruits basket.

Yuki sighed, "Don't mind Kyo, Kagura is making him attend the ceremony."

Tohru nodded and stood up. She cleared her dishes as well as Kyo's and went to the kitchen.

"She's been like that for awhile now." Shigure sighed as he pushed another mouthful of food into his mouth.

"She didn't even touch her food. I wonder what is troubling her. I can't seem to get her to open up to me at all."

Yuki and Shigure looked to the kitchen as they heard a loud thud. Tohru walked out of the kitchen rubbing her forehead.

"I'm going to go get ready now. I'll do the dishes after I get dressed."

Shigure nodded and watched Tohru as she left the room and headed for the stairs. Yuki and Shigure just shrugged and finished their meals.
'It's hard to believe that I leave for school in just two days,' Tohru thought as she pulled a black dress from her closet. It was the same dress she wore every year to visit her mothers grave. 'Okaasan, I'll be going to study nursing in two days! Wish me luck!' Tohru smiled as she pulled on her dress. She looked at herself in the mirror. She still looked like a kid. Tohru grabbed one of her ribbons and pulled her hair up into a ponytail.

"That's better."

She grabbed her umbrella and walked downstairs. Yuki and Shigure were no longer at the table and surprisingly neither were there dishes. Tohru walked into the kitchen and sat her umbrella down on the floor. She walked towards the sink and began to pour the water.

"Tohru-kun, would you like some help?" came Yuki's voice from behind her.

Tohru turned around and smiled.

"No thank you Yuki-kun. Though I could use the company"

Yuki grinned, he was glad to see her smiling face again.

"So you're off to study nursing I hear"

"That's right! I've always wanted to do something where I could help people!"

Yuki smiled, "Do you know who you're going to be studying under yet?"

Tohru shook her head, "Not yet."

"So then you'll be staying with whoever you're studying under?"

"Only during the week. On the weekends I'll be here."

"I'll make sure I visit then!" Yuki smiled.

"That's right you're moving in with Haru-kun soon aren't you?"

Yuki nodded, "Yes in a few days."

Tohru was quiet for a minute. Yuki studied her face.

"Tohru….I-"

"Yuki your lover is here!" rang Shigure's voice.

Yuki sighed and left the kitchen.

Tohru finished the dishes. That's right, Yuki would be gone in a few days, and she would be out on her own then. She would find someone just for herself. Someone who would want a rice ball. Little did she know then just how good things would be for her.

"Tohru are you ready, were leaving now"

"H-hai!" Tohru said grabbing her umbrella and the food she had prepared for after the ceremony.

It had been a long walk to the Sohma house. She had talked with Shigure casually, trying hard not to let him see how worried she felt. Upon arriving at the house they were greeted by Momiji, Kisa and Hiro, who were all much older now. Kisa and Momiji both hugged Tohru happily as she entered the gate.

"Konichiwa Tohru-kun!" They both sang as they wrapped their bodies around her.

Tohru laughed, "Konichiwa Momiji-kun, Kisa-chan"

Kisa passed the basket to Hiro, who carried it in one hand while holding onto Kisa with the other. They entered the large Sohma house where the reception would be held. Hiro gave the food to Ritsu who sat in on the table with the other food. Everyone took there places in the room Akito used to call his own.

"Thank you everyone for coming." The man, who Tohru recognized to be an older member of the Souma family began. "We are here to remember one who carried the burden of the Juinnshi for many years, Akito Sohma. Thanks to Honda Tohru he was able to find some measure of happiness in his last few days, because he could find that happiness we are gathered here to remember him for the good things he did, we are here to celebrate his life, and to acknowledge his death."

The crowd was very silent. Tohru felt her cheeks flush at the mention of her name. She didn't think that this was from her doing, but she was happy to be honoured with mention.

"Please take a moment to remember Akito Sohma as he was, and as he will always be in our memories."

Everyone bowed there heads. Tohru thought back to Akito's last few days. She had decided to visit him one day when no one was around. He had beaten her around, but still she crawled back to him. It took awhile but eventually she broke through his barrier and he opened up to her.

She remember holding his head on her lap, she stroked his hair as he cried. It didn't take long before Akito began to feel better. No one could explain it. He was getting his strength back, he was learning how to smile, a real smile.

Tohru had walked with him through the gardens and she had shown him all the beauty around him. He was very thankful to her, he had even grown quite fond of her in his last days.

She was so happy to break through that wall he had put up, she didn't know how she felt about him, but it warmed her heart to see him smile. Those few days seemed so perfect to Akito, but they were so few. Even though he seemed to regain his health, even though he felt better then he ever had, death came. His body slowly started to deteriorate.

Tohru blamed herself at first, she thought that it was her fault for taking him outside. He refused to accept that. He continued to tell her that he was happier in those past few days then ever in his life. He thanked Tohru with a warm smile, even in his final moments he swore that she was an angel sent to guide him to the right path.

He had apologised to everyone for all the things he had done, and he was free. He was finally able to rest, he had found that little bit of happiness that everyone looks for.

Tohru felt a tear run down her cheek as she though back to her days with Akito. He wasn't Yuki, but he made her feel like she was worth something, like she had a purpose. He told her he'd wait for her in heaven, he'd wait for his angel. Tohru knew she couldn't spend the rest of her life alone, just so that Akito would be happy, she knew that he would want her to be happy, happy like he was.

"Tohru it's time for the reception." It was Kisa.

"Sorry I must have spaced out again."

Kisa smiled and took her hand, leading her back into the other room. Tohru looked back to the shrine that was constructed at the front of the room, the shrine to Akito Sohma.

"Thank you for bringing some of your wonderful cooking." Ayame smiled as Tohru entered the reception room.

"Ayame-san!" Tohru smiled.

It had been so long since she had seen anyone outside of Shigure, Yuki and Kyo.

Ayame smiled and took Tohru's hand, planting a kiss on it. "I am truly honoured that you are so happy to see me."

Tohru blushed, "It's been awhile. How have you been? Are you still running a store?"

"Now, now, there is plenty of time for those questions later, for now shall we dance?"

Tohru was a little caught off guard, she looked behind Ayame. There was soft music playing and couples danced around the floor. Kisa was with Hiro, Kyo with Kagura, Yuki was in the corner taking to Haru and Shigure had asked Ritsu to dance.
Tohru smiled, "I would love to dance with you."

Ayame took Tohru out onto the floor and held her at a distance, so they wouldn't touch. Before long a fast song had started and everyone began to dance. Partners were being switched around, and everyone was smiling. Tohru laughed as she danced around, switching from partner to partner.

It was late before everyone had finished dancing, drinking and just talking. Tohru smiled to herself, she hadn't expected to have so much fun. She was glad, and she knew Akito would be if he was watching them right now. Standing up Tohru made her way towards the hall. She wasn't very familiar with the house but she knew she could find a bathroom around here somewhere.

Walking into the hall Tohru felt her way along the wall. She stopped at a door she recognized to be Hatori's. 'He wasn't there tonight. He must have gone back to his room after the ceremony.' Tohru began to space out staring at the closed door.

Suddenly the door opened and Tohru snapped back to reality to see Hatori standing in front of her a questioning look on his face.

"Gomen! I was…looking for a bathroom you see, and I stopped because I remembered that you had left after the reception, and-" Tohru stopped as her eyes began to wonder over Hatori's features.

He was wearing his usual dress pants, but his shirt was no longer tucked in and the tie was missing. A few buttons were undone on his shirt, revealing his muscular chest. Tohru blushed as she caught herself admiring Hatori's handsome physique. She looked away, her faced flushed.

Hatori opened his door further and began buttoning up his shirt.

"I'll show you where the bathroom is," Hatori said calmly stepping out passed Tohru and walking down the hall.

He stopped at a door at the end of the hall.

"Ar-arigato Hatori-san." Tohru said avoiding his sharp green eyes.

"Try not to get lost on the way back Tohru-kun" Hatori said giving her a smile before he walked back to his room.

Author's note: Sorry about the Akito/Tohru in there, I promise that next chapter will have lots of Hatori/Tohru in it! I hope to have it finished within the next two days! R&R!